Final answer:
John C. Calhoun supported his interpretation of the US government by citing precedents, such as nullification and the concept of a concurrent majority, to preserve states' rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
John C. Calhoun supported his interpretation of the US government by citing several precedents. One of these precedents was the idea of nullification, which Calhoun believed allowed states to declare federal laws null and void within their borders if they found them objectionable. He also advanced the concept of a concurrent majority, which would give a separate region the power to veto legislation put forward by a hostile majority. Additionally, Calhoun argued for the preservation of states' rights and the right of states to secede from the union if they still objected to federal laws. These precedents formed the basis of Calhoun's interpretation of the US government.